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NFL Football Preview – Here Come the Seahawks: stumbling and bumbling Into Holmgren's last year
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Just when Seattle's Mike Holmgren is entering his last year as head coach, his Seahawks now stumbling and bumbling their way into what appears to be a Larry, Mo and Curly comedy routine.
After dusting off Minnesota Vikings 34-17 in their first 2008 preseason game on the road in Minneapolis, the Seahawks narrowly escaped defeat in their home preseason opens against the Chicago Bears, winning 29-26 in a buggy display of ineptness. For the Seahawks' faithful, it was not something to joke.
There are high hopes in Seattle in years, mainly because Holmgren is entering his last year after winning an AFC West Division title, one NFC Wildcard berth, four consecutive NFC West Division championships (2004 through 2007), an NFC championship, and took Seahawks their first ever Super Bowl appearance in 2005 where they promptly lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10.
Against Minnesota, the Seahawks were ball Hawks, forcing five fumbles, recovering four and picking off an interception. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace completed 15 of 20 cards with three touchdown passes after starter Matt Hasselbeck looked solid in the first two series of the game.
Against Chicago, the Seahawks were on both sides of another planet.
On the good side, choose their seventh-round draft from Georgia, was place-kicker Brandon Coutu, 5-for-5, including the game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime to win. Seattle's other seventh-round draft choice from California, five-foot-8 Justin Forseti, picked up 261 all purpose yards? exclude a 50-yard plus revoked back to keep? and with all 136 of his rushing yards comes when he played in the second half.
Coutu is a backup to Olindo Mare, a former Pro Bowl, 12-year veteran with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Forseti is the fourth at running back depth chart behind Maurice Morris, Julius Jones and TJ Duckett. Jones (from Dallas Cowboys) and Duckett (Detroit Lions) are new pickups this year to replace the release of the former All Pro and 2005 NFL Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander.
In 2005, he became the first player in NFL history to score 19 rushing or receiving TDS in only 10 matches. That mark ultimately aided him in breaking the NFL single-season mark for touchdowns with the 27th Alexander, hampered by injuries the past two seasons, was Seattle's all-time leading rushes with 7,817 rushing yards and 89 rushing touchdowns in five seasons.
On the bad side, the Seahawks had to overcome two blocked Punts and an interception return for a touchdown finally win at home. Third string quarterback Charlie Fry completed 20-of-35 passes but was intercepted 3 times. Seattle won only because the Bears' Pro Bowl kicker space missed a potential game-winner from 47 yards as regulation time expired.
Seattle is still excited about new second-round draft choice John Carlson from Notre Dame. Holmgren West Coast Offense was badly needed a tight end who could play effectively.
The addition of veteran guard and former Pro Bowler Mike Wahl of the Carolina Panthers should bolster an offensive line, which was excellent in 2005 and became a lot less so with the departure of guard Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Hutchinson was unstoppable since Walter Jones, the Seahawks premier address, there is an eight-time Pro Browler and six-time All Pro.
Sorry Seahawks underestimated positive locker room presence of Hutchinson, who created a leadership have been left unfulfilled.
While Seattle seems stable in its coaching change (Jim Mora, a current assistant head coach and Defensive Backs Coach, will replace Holmgren next years), there are a lot of turnover among coaches.
The Seahawks have added Mike Solari from Kansas City Chiefs (the new offensive line coach) Bill Lazor from Washington Redskins (the new quarterback backs coach), Kasey Dunn from the University of Maryland (new running backs coach) and Mike Debord from the University of Michigan (new offensive assistant trainer).
Like most NFL teams, the 'Hawks have a lot of buses to go with Holmgren, 19 of them in reality. In some cases they work harder than the players they are coaching.
Seattle and the NFL generally have a lot of players who are overpaid and underperformed. Two of them are defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, a huge man that could clog the middle, if he was injured every 10 minutes in his career, and offensive tackle Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who Seahawks like because he can play more than one position on the line.
Womack, like Tubbs is hurt more than healthy. Seattle mercifully cut Tubbs loose earlier in preseason camp. But they retreated Womack, a dubious move at best. It is as if the Seahawks could not find another decent and healthy backup tackle on the face of the earth.
To his credit, the Seattle drafted replacements that drew players discredit, none of them have proved unable to get the job done, so come back Womack to second season ie until he is injured again.
So who is hurt? I thought you would never ask. Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has enough problems with his back to make an orthopedic surgeon wealthy, new go-to wide receiver Bobby Engram has a cracked shoulder and will be out for awhile, and expensive wide receiver Deion Branch is recovering from knee surgery.
A wealth of other players are whining about normal bumps and bruises. Big deal, it is football, not tiddlywinks.
About the Author
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on football, including:
“About Super Bowl 42 – Here’s a Different Slant on the Giants’ Upset Win to Become World Champs”
and my 14 consecutive weekly wrap-up articles on the 2007 College Football Season as well as wrap-up articles on all 32 College Bowl Games.
Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
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